Driving change at the intersection of financial strategy and healthcare access.
Hajer was born and raised in Chicago to immigrant parents from Tunisia and Bulgaria. Growing up, she witnessed the barriers her family faced in accessing healthcare due to language and systemic challenges. After volunteering with the Syrian Community Network, first at a children’s summer camp and later tutoring a Syrian third grader, she became deeply aware of the healthcare inequities impacting refugee families.
In 2024, she launched a bilingual healthcare initiative to support Arabic-speaking immigrants and refugees in navigating the US healthcare system. She created and distributed culturally relevant flyers in Arabic and English through mosques, community centers, social media, and nonprofit partners, reaching over 100 families across Chicagoland. Through this work, Hajer hopes to empower immigrant families with the knowledge and tools to advocate for their health and challenge the systems that often overlook them.
She also gained hands-on medical experience as a Health Science Intern at the University of Chicago and a Rush Building Blocks Scholar. Beyond healthcare, Hajer has held leadership roles in the MENA Culture Club, Breaking Barriers, Feud for Food, and Anatomy Club, where she led events, managed budgets, and fostered student engagement. She is currently interning in the Data Science Department at Balyasny Asset Management, where she conducts data analysis projects using SQL, Python, and Excel. Hajer is excited to continue exploring opportunities in finance, business, and healthcare where she can drive impact through research, advocacy, and innovation.
Leadership:
- MENA Culture Club, President
- Bilingual Healthcare Initiative – Syrian Community Network, Founder
- Breaking Barriers, Treasurer
